>> live from the abc 7 broadcast center, this is "good morning washington," on your side. more bitter cold is ripping more than half of the country this morning, sending we haveures as low as seen them in several years. an arctic blast is heading our way. millions of americans are hoping for progress on capitol hill today. robert gets back to work. -- congress gets back to work. story today and tomorrow is going to be the weather. we want to get to jacqui jeras. she is in the weather center. right now, it feels fine. temperatures actually went up to the overnight hours. it is counterintuitive in terms

of waking up to temperatures in the 40's. now, we arers from talking about temperatures almost 40 degrees colder than that. some of us are going to be waking up to single digits, i think most of us will, by tomorrow morning. i put the temperatures on top of super doppler radar to show you that the precipitation it is out there at this hour is just rain. light and that will be the case through the morning hours. we could see a transition to snow late this afternoon. this morning, still some patchy fog up there, but the fog advisory that was in fact -- was in effect was canceled early. light rain will be expected on and off throughout the morning hours with the mix late this morning. this afternoon, skies are going to clear up, but temperatures will be plummeting through the 30's. i 5:00, we're talking about

temperatures below the freezing mark. interest cold comes in overnight with wind chill between minus five and -25. ahead of that. we will talk about the dangers cold coming up. let's give our traffic report. amanda meadows is at wtop. are very slick and we're seeing fog throughout the area. we're going to start off with a live shot. this is along 66. you will see the haze over the lights. you can see that the lights are reflecting off of the pavement. wet conditions and then foggy conditions in some areas. you need to use caution. use the low beams instead of the high beams. high beams can reflect off fog and cause the lability -- caused visibility to be worse. route 50 looking good. foughtey bridge has

warnings in effect. nothing like we were seeing friday. we have things moving nicely onto 95 and 395. 66, as we saw, delay free at this time. is as well. you're good to go. a live shot along 270. you have a wet and slick conditions. >> the alleged driver in a high-speed chase that killed a prince george's county police officer goes to trial today. adriana morris died in august 2012 when he lost control of his cruiser and crash. he was chasing two suspects in a stolen car. the driver is charged with manslaughter. starts todayial for a man charged in killing a 91-year-old woman in their georgetown home.

recente stalled in months over the debate over mental and physical health. congress gets back to work today. republicans plan to vocus on the health care law. -- plan to focus on the health care law. it will try to extend legislation for jobless benefits. a in the senate, it has decent shot of passing. republicans have been saying over and over is how are we going to pay for this. raise thets plan to federal memo wage and is expected to confirm janet yellen is the next year the federal reserve. much of the country is being swept up by the coldest air we have seen in nearly 20 years. >> these wind chills are in the upper midwest and could drive

temperatures down 65 degrees below zero. mary bruce has the latest. >> there is cold and then there's this. chilling, freezing air sweeping across half of the continental u.s.. an arctic blast is plunging temperatures to lows not felt in decades. warnings and advisories are stretching from montana to alabama. and below zero in cleveland 12 below and pittsburgh. it is so cold in chicago, residents are calling their city chiberia. is so coldpolis, it that frostbite can occur in five minutes. many cities are canceling classes. the blinding snow, ice, and freezing rain have made roads treacherous. air paying -- airport runways are also a hazard. spirit airways

had a flight slide off the runway. inside airports, stranded passengers are frustrated. airlines are warning it could take days to get people to their final destinations. >> i just want to go home. i want to get settled in. we have been cut up -- cooped up for several days. >> green bay packer fans braved five degree weather. >> i have four layers of sets of snowo pants, four shirts, sweatshirts, and the code. -- and a coat. as jacqui has been saying, our area is up next to get this arctic blast. cruiser preparing. -- crews are preparing.

>> we may learn more about a missing teen. prosecutors plan to hold a conference regarding the disappearance of alexis murphy. she went missing on august 3 from a gas station in lovingston. randy taylor is expected in court this afternoon for a motions hearing. >> today, we will get a closer look at the giant panda cub at the national zoo. xiang's andin mei the enclosure. how long we will get to see her will depend on her own mood. make sure you look for an update today at noon. what that started this massive snowball fights.

for uss a little bizarre to talk about how cold it is going to be when it is 43 degrees right now. 24 hours.>> morning we will feel the worst of the cold. a windchill is going to be 45.

it is 43 in gaithersburg, frederick is at 37. it is 43 at dulles airport. the big changes are going to be coming as our cold front will pass through late this morning. watch for temperatures to plummet throughout the day. the winds will be picking up. we have a few light rain showers. break up starting to already. mostly sunny skies and windy conditions, 34 degrees at 4:00. it's evening and overnight, was when the temperatures will plummet. wind chill advisories and warnings across our entire area. we could be breaking records by tomorrow morning as we get down to the single digits. look at the windchill factor, in the double digits, below zero. mama: how long it will last coming up. the commute is fairly quiet.

we do not have any accidents to report on the secondaries or major highways. we are experiencing some fog through certain areas. we're going to start off with a live shot where we can see conditions. ,ou can see things are moving but they are a little foggy on the wilson bridge. use caution. though slower than usual this morning. be prepared for the low visibility in stretches. nicely, butes white at a forewarning, if you use the bay bridge, they have a fog warning in effect. 295 moving along nicely, no problems or delays. as you use 270, you are good to go. we have a live shot to show you conditions closer to the city. that would be along the key bridge. that is going to be the key bridge -- that is actually another shot coming along, it is

a little foggy on the woodrow wilson bridge him still. >> as jacqui said, before too long, it is going to be frigid. are working to keep you safe. we have everything you need to know before you go today and tomorrow.

check of back and a

our top stories this morning -- congress heads back to work today. they're going to be placing a hefty list of unfinished business and politically driven agenda. voteouse is scheduled to on legislation dealing with the security of personal data on the health care marketplace website. >> the alleged driver that killed a prince george's county police officer heads to court today. the suspect stole a car. adrian morris died when he lost control of his cruiser during that chase. more information about alexis murphy. prosecutors scheduled a news conference this morning. she disappeared in early august. the man arrested in connection to her disappearance has a motions hearing this afternoon. highcal agencies are in

gear this morning, bracing for the cold weather and icy conditions. transitand administration has rail heaters waiting to go. the washington, d.c. region may resemble the arctic. temperatures could dip into single digits. loudoun county residents were concerned. downtown leesburg, that was not the place for pedestrians. family opted to walk on the road then walk on the sidewalks. >> it is very treacherous out here. we haven't had a cold winter in a wild. >> even though temperatures

climb, you may want to brace for bone chilling conditions on tuesday. like 10 below. >> there's no need to come out. going?y in that kind of weather, where do i need to go? they're not looking forward to the cold. the d.c. region that is the last time it was as cold as we think it is going to be on tuesday. >> i remember that. download our storm watch weather app. it has everything you need to know to stay one step ahead of this arctic blast. federal investigators are trying to determine why a private jet crashed and burned

at the aspen colorado airport. one person was killed and two others were undated -- and two others were injured. the runwayent off and flipped over and burst into flames. in mexico.originated all men on board were pilots. >> investigators are trying to find out what caused a fire that damaged a former schooling colonial beach. school in the colonial beach. forbuilding was being used storage. other buildings being used by elementary will students were not damaged. can't -- classes are canceled today. this.e a look at this was the scene in missouri as a bus became's. -- bus became stuck in the snow. several midwestern states got up to a foot of new snow.

schools across the midwest, including chicago and all of minnesota will be closed today. >> a tweet started a snowball fight in downtown indianapolis. someone sent out the tweet asking people to come out and play in the snow. asre is no exact count, but you can see, a lot of people showed up. the national weather service reports more than 10 inches of snow fell in indianapolis. there,plaud their effort but nothing can compare to our snowball fight in dupont during snowmageddon. >> quite the situation out there. >> we are going to get incredible temperatures and wind chill factors by tomorrow morning. the good news is, it is kind of a quick blast of cold air. the bad news is is is going to be dangerous if you plan on being outside at length. you need to address appropriate

for the weather and keep that in mind. this morning, couple of little hiccups. we have some rain showers, but the temperatures on top of the, 45 in d.c. -- well is well up rose above the freezing mark. andh out for bridges overpasses west of i-81. our temperatures are this -- the warmest as we are waking up this morning. the cold front will pass, we think, late this morning. we will expect to see another round of light rain showers. we could transition to light snow showers. little to no accumulation is expected with those. the big story is the cold. in spots. is an issue it is down to about half a mile in reagan national. the dense fog advisory that was in effect has been dropped. it will be patchy in spots.

by this afternoon, you will think things will look good, but it will feel cold. means aies at night very cold temperatures. when gusts will be around 25 miles per hour. watch what happens as we head to the afternoon. the temperatures drop, feeling like some teens across much of the area. i this evening, even into the overnight, where dropping down to single digits, even single digits below zero. tomorrow morning is when it will be the most dangerous. up to 25see readings degrees below zero. our forecast today, have the clouds in the fog, the light rain this morning. changing over to a few flurries late this morning. clearing skies this afternoon, becoming windy and cold. temperatures will be dropping to the 30 since afternoon. tonight will drop down to negative five and 10 above.

tomorrow, we stay in the single digits to middle teens all day long. be innd chill factor will the single digits for the better part of the day. we will start to recover by wednesday. by the end of the week, it will be back to where we started here, into the 40's. we are seeing slick roadways. you need to use caution, give yourself extra time heading out the doorway. we are experiencing slick conditions. we can see along georgia avenue, east-west highway, headlights reflecting off the pavement because it is wet. a little bit foggy. you can see hayes. it is patchy in some areas. you you need to -- you need to use caution. down toreen from urbana the lane divide. -- dulles toll way is out

absolutely beautiful. no accidents on the major highways. 66 as well as 95 are delay free. i will send it back to you. >> metro riders, your commute is about to get more comfortable. we will explain that coming up next. >> it is a story that one woman says reminded her there is good in all of us.

>> the transit agency is introducing its first series 7000 cars today. they meet a critical safety recommendation to replace older cars and they add trade >> >> -- train capacity. a woman was in the checkout lane and walmart winter cards were decline. paid, butr behind her would not give her name. ready, thee codes cold is coming. ready, the cold is coming. >> we have a live look outside. a foggy monday morning to start your work week. jacqui is in next. ♪ lyrics: 'take on me...'

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>> a dangerous chill nearly half the country is waking up to. that arctic blast is heading our way. >> millions are looking to capitol hill for release as -- relief as congress gets back to work. good morning washington at 5:00 a.m. begins right now. captioned by the nationalap